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Our Market View

16 Apr 2014

We are also seeing more newly created investment hires, especially in-house - this is particularly noteworthy, as it hasn’t happened in the last five years. The demand for agency Account Managers and Account Directors has also rocketed.

When looking at the industry sectors hiring for their in-house teams, professional services stands out, particularly law firms and commercial property companies; many of these are looking for PR & Communications Mangers.

We have filled some lovely senior-level roles in-house - namely with Tata Group and Battersea Power Station. I’m now undertaking a search campaign for a Head of Media requiring Financial Services experience along with an Associate Director for a contract for a bank and investment business.

The demand for agency Account Managers and Senior Account Managers has been high in Q1 with an astounding increase of 350% requirements compared to Q1 last year. In fact, most of our consumer agency clients have been looking for generalist Account Managers and the same goes for the corporate PR agencies looking for Financial Services sector knowledge. Agency Account Directors have been in demand as well with an increase of 175% more requirements compared to Q1 last year. One of the main reasons for these remarkable statistics is the confidence to move – if you take a look at the job boards now, you will see how much more is on offer.

Confidence brings boldness and we have seen candidates requesting a salary uplift of 10-12% when moving jobs. They are sticking to their guns too and although this is in line with our research, some potential employers are finding this too much.

My business partner, Lynne Wilkins, is also forging ahead establishing an Internal Communications division and has a consultant joining her next month – exciting times! As always, ‘exceptional talent’ is the focus.